Robert Downey Jr. says he would 'sue all future executives' if Marvel replicated his likeness. He's the second 'Avengers' star to speak out against AI.

• Robert Downey Jr. says he would writer "future executives" if Marvel uses AI to replicate his likeness.
• The "Iron Man" character said to Kara Swisher connected her podcast astir his concerns complete AI successful film.
• Downey Jr. is nan 2nd "Avengers" prima aft Scarlett Johansson to knock AI.

Robert Downey Jr. told tech journalist Kara Swisher he would writer Marvel if nan workplace replicated his likeness pinch AI aft his death.

Downey Jr. discussed his thoughts connected AI during an section of nan "On With Kara Swisher" podcast, published connected October 21.

The character retired from nan domiciled of Tony Stark/Iron Man successful 2019's "Avengers: Endgame" erstwhile nan fictional characteristic died redeeming nan Marvel Cinematic Universe from Thanos (Josh Brolin). But Downey Jr. will return to nan MCU to play a villain, Doctor Doom, successful 2026's "Avengers: Doomsday."

The prima clarified that he won't let Marvel Studios to replicate his likeness utilizing AI successful nan future, sloppy of which characteristic he plays. He added that he's not concerned astir Marvel utilizing AI for nan moment.

Downey Jr. told Swisher he was assured he'd beryllium progressive successful decisions astir what mightiness hap to Tony Stark's character.

"To spell backmost to nan MCU, I'm not worried astir them hijacking my character's psyche because there's for illustration 3 aliases 4 guys and gals who make each nan decisions location anyway, and they would ne'er do that to me, pinch aliases without me," he said.

Host Kara Swisher pointed retired that Downey Jr. mightiness not cognize nan executives successful nan future. He replied, "Well, you're right. I would for illustration to present authorities that I intend to writer each early executives conscionable connected spec."

Swisher went connected to opportunity Downey Jr. whitethorn beryllium dormant erstwhile nan workplace could perchance usage AI successful this way. The character responded, "But my rule patient will still beryllium very active."

Downey Jr.'s concerns astir Marvel utilizing AI successful nan early are understandable.

The superhero genre heavy relies connected CGI to picture large action sequences and cameo appearances. Since studios person a slope of footage readily available, producing AI recreations of celebrated characters is easier than ever.

For example, successful 2023's "The Flash," Warner Bros. brought Christopher Reeve backmost utilizing a blend of CGI and AI exertion that meant nan dormant prima could cameo during a multiverse montage.

Downey Jr. is nan 2nd "Avengers" prima to sound their concerns astir nan usage of AI.

In May 2024, OpenAI demoed respective sound options for their latest type of ChatGPT, GPT-4o. Users quickly began comparing 1 of nan sound options to Scarlett Johansson, who played nan MCU Black Widow character.

In a connection Johansson provided BI pinch successful May, Johansson said OpenAI CEO Sam Altman had already contacted her successful September 2024 asking her to sound ChatGPT, but she had declined.

The character added Altman reached retired to her days earlier GPT-4o was announced to inquire her to reconsider. Before she responded, nan demo had been released, she said.

The character said she was "forced to prosecute ineligible counsel" and was "in disbelief" that nan institution chose a sound truthful akin to hers.

OpenAI paused nan sound that sounded akin to Johansson, but didn't specify why.

Toward nan extremity of nan podcast, Swisher besides asked Downey Jr. why he has invested successful AI companies successful caller years, fixed his guidance to its imaginable exertion successful nan movie industry. In 2023, he joined nan committee of a information startup, Aura, that intends to conflict cybercrime.

He explained his stance, saying: "It ever comes down again to not nan exertion aliases nan opportunity to statement my pockets arsenic overmuch as, 'Who are nan group progressive pinch this? Do I deliberation they person a civilized psychology?"

"So I'm a small much agnostic astir these things," he said.